NMJL CARD FAQS (ARTICLE 254)

The inside of the NMJL card lists all the valid hands for the year with a bit of guidance on how to play and handle common situations. But it’s not perfect—you’ll want to be aware of a few inconsistencies, misprints, and oversights. This wiki article breaks down the FAQs so you can play with clarity, confidence, and fewer head-scratching moments.

Hand FAQs

The inside of the card provides a menu of valid hand combinations across multiple categories, presenting all the options available for play. The following are frequently asked questions about the new card.

I ordered my card in January and haven’t received it yet! When will I get my #@*% card?!

If you purchased your card before mid-February, you should receive it any day. If you bought it later than that, you may not receive it until late April. Patience will serve you well. In the meantime, learn from instructors, creating content with examples until you receive your card.

There are errors on my card. How and when will I get a new one?
There are two printing errors and five valuation oversights. Consecutive Run #3-2 (large card); Evens #4 (small card): These are shown as one-suit hands but require three suits.

The only official announcement from the NMJL is that “Replacement cards will be mailed out in a few weeks (03/29/2025).” Based on that timeline, they should arrive by the third week of April, but delays are possible. Keep an eye on the NMJL website for any updates.

UPDATE as of 04/05/2025: Corrected NMJL Cards Are in Production! Distribution is expected between late May and early June. According to the League, as of this posting, players who order now will receive both the original and the corrected cards. Shout-out to Dara Collins and Donna Miller Kassman of Modern Mahjong for keeping the community informed and supported!

UPDATE as of 04/08/2025: Orders placed before March 19 were shipped today and they have misprints.

Which hands are the same as last year’s?

The hands that made the cut are Winds-Dragons #1, Winds-Dragons #7 (2024 Year #4 concealed at 30 points; should be a 25-point hand), and 369 #2.

Must the three-number sequence precede the kongs in Consecutive Run #4?

Consecutive Run #4 includes a chow—a run of three consecutive number tiles in the same suit—a block of tiles standard in most other versions of mah jongg. In American mah jongg, players must keep sequences and single tiles concealed since you can’t claim a discard to expose a sequence unless it completes your hand for mah jongg, and jokers cannot be used. For this hand, the five-number sequence must begin with the chow because the text in the parenthesis does not include flexibility for the order. A discard can’t complete a chow unless waiting on one tile, and jokers can’t be used. The mixed suit kongs follow the cow in consecutive order.

Does the pair need to come first in Consecutive Run #7?

Consecutive Run #7 requires a 5-number sequence, and the pair can be any number – this is called a floating pair. A discard cannot be claimed to complete the 5-number sequence unless the hand is ready to win and jokers cannot be used. The like kongs must be the same number as the pair in the 5-number sequence.

Do the three number tiles need to match kong of dragons?

Winds–Dragons #2 requires all three dragons, but they can be in any combination—you decide which dragon will be the pair, the pung (three of a kind), and the kong (four of a kind). The chow does not need to match the kong in suit or color; it can be from any suit, as long as it forms a legal sequence.

What does opposite dragons mean?
Consecutive Run #6 and Odds #6 require number tiles with opposite dragons. These hands require all three suits to be represented, so if the number of tiles in one suit is the same, the corresponding dragons of the other two suits must be used.

Is Any Like Numbers #2 a printing error?

Any Like Numbers #2 is not a misprint. The hand requires a split-kong to clarify that jokers cannot be used since the result is two pairs. Jokers can be used for the kong of flowers and pungs of like numbers. If you are ready to win, you can claim a discard to complete the hand on any discard, including a pair.

Why is 369 #5 a lower value than Odds #7 when they have the same components?
Four out of the 71 hands have been undervalued, which could impact decision-making and scoring outcomes. This oversight may lead to players misjudging the difficulty or potential of completing these hands, affecting overall gameplay and strategy.

• Historically, hands with four pairs and big multiples (e.g., Evens #8, Odds #9) are 35 points.
• Hands with three pairs and two kongs (e.g., Odds #7 [correct], 369 #5 [incorrect]) should be 30 points.
• Winds-Dragons #2 requires a chow and all three dragons, making it more challenging than it appears—yet it’s undervalued for its difficulty level.

Players must use good judgment with hand selection and adjust their approach to account for these discrepancies to remain competitive.

What are the uses of a white dragon?

Odds #4 is a math-play hand that requires a number 10. White dragons are dual-purpose tiles. They can function as dragons, corresponding to the dot suit, or as zeros (e.g., neutral; always dark blue). When used as zeros, they no longer correspond to dots and are treated solely as zeros. Zeros can used in a math play hand or a block of Year tiles (e.g., 10, 2025, 000, 0000). Consecutive runs (e.g., sequences) can only consist of number tiles ranging from 1 to 9.

Can I use evens with North and South and odds with East and West?

Winds-Dragons #5 and #6 use North and South with odds and East and West with evens. The wind combinations and number tiles are not interchangeable.

Select Standards FAQs

The league provides basic rules and guidelines on the back of the card. Due to limited space, this is not a comprehensive reference.

What do we do when two players want the same discard?

Rules #5 and #6 explain what should happen when two players want the same discard for the same reason, the player next in turn gets the tile. However, if the player next in turn is not paying attention and another player claims the discard by racking it or exposing tiles, it’s too late for the player next in turn. Learn more: https://mahjlife.com/wiki/simultaneous-call-for-a-discard-both-for-exposures-article-93/

Can I make changes to my exposure?

Rule # 7 correctly explains that changes can be made to an exposure during a player’s turn. A player may adjust the number of tiles (e.g., pung to kong, kong to pung) and type of tiles (e.g., flower, suit, wind, dragon, joker from the hand) in an exposure up until they have discarded. It appears that a player can correct any mistake during their turn, but that is not the case. Here are three related situations that should be considered:

• Exposures made earlier in the game cannot be changed (Article 6).
• If a player racks the wrong discard by mistake, they can be disqualified (Article 90).
• If a claimed discard is racked or tiles are exposed, the player is committed to using it. They can be disqualified if they can’t follow through (Article 24).

Watch the video and download the free companion eBook for a side-by-side look at what’s new, what’s changed, and what to watch out for. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just getting started, this guide will help you make a smooth transition.